Building the Airbnb for EV Charging with DeCharge | Mohan Ponnada

This episode reveals how DeCharge is building the "Airbnb for EV charging," using a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) to solve the fragmentation and scalability issues plaguing the global electric vehicle industry.

Exploring Emerging Markets: A Global DePIN Strategy

Mohan Ponnada, founder of DeCharge, explains his presence in Kenya as a strategic move to explore and expand into emerging markets. He highlights that Kenya possesses a thriving ecosystem with a growing gig economy, making it an ideal location for early-stage electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure deployment. This visit is focused on meeting with local partners, understanding market dynamics, and establishing on-ground deployment partnerships with gig economy companies, demonstrating a hands-on approach to global expansion.

The Problem with Centralized EV Charging

Mohan outlines the core issues with the current EV charging industry, describing it as fragmented, centralized, and "really broken." He points to the non-Tesla ecosystem as a disaster, where users must navigate multiple apps and often encounter non-functional or broken charging stations. Centralized deployment models are limited by capital and geography, making rapid, global scaling nearly impossible. Mohan argues that the 40-year timeline it took for gas stations to become ubiquitous is a luxury the EV industry doesn't have, necessitating a decentralized approach.

• DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks): This model uses crypto-economic incentives to encourage individuals and communities to build and maintain real-world physical infrastructure, such as EV chargers, creating a more scalable and resilient network than centralized alternatives.

The DeCharge Solution: Community-Owned Infrastructure

DeCharge proposes a DePIN model where communities own and operate the charging infrastructure, creating a win-win scenario. This approach not only provides reliable charging for the ecosystem but also generates revenue for the community participants. Mohan draws a parallel to investing in gas stations 40 years ago, framing the shift to electric mobility as a massive economic opportunity where revenue can be distributed among thousands of network participants rather than being captured by a few centralized companies.

"Communities being involved in the aspect of providing charging infrastructure to a) boost their own communities with more revenue and b) provide reliable charging infrastructure to the entire ecosystem is where the win is. This is probably the perfect definition of DePIN and crypto working together."

An Open and Accessible Network Model

DeCharge is designed for maximum accessibility, allowing anyone to participate. Hosts can either purchase hardware directly from DeCharge for seamless onboarding or connect their existing chargers to the network. This "bring your own device" model is a key strategic choice to lower the barrier to entry.

• The only technical requirement is that the hardware is OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) 1.6 compliant. This is a global, open-source communication standard for EV chargers and network management systems, ensuring interoperability across different hardware manufacturers.

This model effectively turns idle chargers into revenue-generating assets, similar to how Airbnb allows homeowners to monetize unused space.

Network Traction and Rapid Growth

Mohan shares impressive growth metrics, underscoring the network's momentum. DeCharge has shifted from a B2B focus to attracting significant private user adoption, driven by a frictionless user experience that eliminates the need for app downloads and introduces browser and even WhatsApp-based charging.

• Sales Growth: Scaled from 20-25 charger sales per month to approximately 55 sales per day.
• Network Target: Aims to have 25,000 charging stations deployed globally by March 2025.
• Current Deployments: Over 650 active deployments, with operations scaling to keep up with sales.
• User Base: The platform serves over 40,000 EV users.
• Hardware Expansion: DeCharge is expanding from slow chargers (up to 7 kW) to fast chargers (30 kW, 60 kW, 120 kW) to service cars more quickly.

Token Launch Strategy and Regulatory Foresight

DeCharge is taking a "demand-first" approach, a notable strategy in the DePIN space which often focuses on building supply first. The goal is to establish a robust, revenue-generating network before the token launch to ensure organic growth and value for participants.

• Pre-Launch Target: Mohan aims for 5,000 to 10,000 active charging stations before the token launch, which is tentatively planned for Q2 2025.
• Blockchain Choice: The network will launch on Solana, a decision Mohan describes as a "no-brainer."
• Regulatory Strategy: The team is actively working with legal teams and regulators in the U.S. to structure the token in a way that it might receive a "no-action letter," which would provide clarity that it is not considered a security. This proactive compliance effort is a critical risk-mitigation step for the project and its investors.

Why Solana is the "Holy Place" for DePIN

Even with a blank slate, Mohan affirms his choice of Solana. He credits the ecosystem's supportive community, solid technology, and a culture that encourages innovation and experimentation. He notes that the Web3 funds and builders within the Solana ecosystem have a unique temperament suited for DePIN projects. Citing the success of projects like Helium and Hivemapper, he positions Solana as the premier blockchain for building successful decentralized physical infrastructure networks.

Conclusion

DeCharge's demand-first DePIN model presents a pragmatic strategy for scaling global EV infrastructure. For investors and researchers, the key metrics to watch are sales velocity and B2B partnership execution, which serve as crucial indicators of pre-token network health and its potential for capturing a significant share of the EV charging market.